Clothespin



Feb. 6, 1951 C. G. BEVIN, 2ND

CLOTHESPIN Filed Aug. 18, 1948 INVENTOR. C'fifluwcar G. Bey/m BY I Patented Feb. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLOTHESPIN Chauncey G. Bevin, 2nd, Sherman Oaks, Calif.

Application August 18, 1948, Serial No. 44,860

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to clothespins and more particularly to such devices as are prov d d w locking means to securely retain an article on a clothesline or the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a clothespin which may be locked to a clothesline in such a manner as to securely fasten the article held thereby to the said clothesline so that the said article will not be blown 01f the clothesline by heavy winds.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clothespin having a re-enforcing device thereon so constructed as to eliminate splitting of the clothespin when it is applied over an article on a clothesline.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more clearly understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a sectional view on line ll of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is an elevational front view of my novel clothespin, illustrating the locking device in retracted position.

Fig. 3 is an elevational side view thereof.

Fig. 4 is an elevational front view of my novel clothespin in locked position on a clothesline.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the locking device used on my novel clothespin.

In the embodiment of the invention, as shown in the drawings, the numeral 5 denotes a clothespin constructed of wood, or the like, and comprising a shank S with an enlarged head 1 at the top thereof. A pair of legs 8-8 extend downwardly from said shank to form a notch 9 therebetween; the said legs being constructed in the conventional manner wherein they diverge outwardly from the said shank as shown.

My improved locking device comprises a rectangularly shaped body portion In, preferably of sheet metal, having an opening H therethrough to slidably receive the clothespin 5. The body portion Iii has, extending from the sides thereof, a pair of legs I 2l2 which fit snugly against the sides of the clothespin 5 and are curved outwardly at their end portions, as at It, to facilitate the movement of the said arms along the sides of the clothespin. The said body portion ID has extending upwardly and outwardly from the sides thereof a pair of tabs M-M which are formed in tegrally with the said body portion.

In the use of my improved clothespin, it is first placed over an article i 5- on a clothesline IS with the locking member in the retracted position illustrated in Fig. i, wherein it is prevented from sliding off the shank by the head 1 of the pin 5.

The clothespin is pressed downwardly over the clothesline and the article thereon until the said article is a suitable distance into the notch 9. The tabs l4-I4 on the locking device are then engaged with the users fingers, and the locking device forced downwardly on the clothespin until the bottom of the body portion I0 rests on, or substantially near the clothesline It, as illustrated in Fig. 4. In this position, the legs l2l 2 will have engaged the outwardly diverging surfaces of the legs 88 of the clothespin and urged them together in such a manner as to substantially close them under the clothesline l6 and thereby securely lock the article to the clothesline.

It will be especially noted that, by extending the legs lZ-IZ downwardly from the body portion ll] of the locking device, the legs of the clothespin are not only forced against the clothesline, but also caused to substantially encircle the line to provide a positive and secure lock for the clothes.

Also, the said legs 88 will prevent the clothespin from splitting when it is applied over the article on the clothesline 5 as the said legs extend downwardly a sufficient distance over the legs 88 of the pin to prevent them from spreading too far apart and causing a severe stress at the top of the notch 9.

Iclaim: 1. A clothespin of inherently resilient material comprising a shank, a head on one end of the shank, a pair of legs extending from the other end of the shank, the outer sides of the legs being parallel for their major lengths with the outer ends of the legs flaring outwardly, a locking member slidably positioned on said shank and having a band-like body snugly engaging said shank and a pair of straight legs at opposite sides of said body flatly engaging adjacent sides of the shank and adapted to be slid outwardly on the shank and legs for engaging the outwardly flared ends of the legs for urging the outer ends of the legs towards each other for clamping an article on a clothesline.

2. A clothespin of inherently resilient material comprising a shank, a head on one end of the shank, a pair of legs extending from the other end of the shank, the outer sides of the leg being parallel for their major lengths with the outer ends of the legs flaring outwardly, a locking member slidably positioned on said shank and having a band-like body snugly engaging said shank and a pair of straight legs at opposite sides of said body flatly engaging adjacent sides of the shank and adapted to be slid outwardly on the shank 2,540,287 l 3 4 and legs for engaging the outwardly flared ends NIT of the legs for urging the outer ends of the legs U ED STATES PATENTS towards each other for clamping an article on a, Number Name Date clothesline, and a pair of finger tabs projecting ,556 Fyfe Oct. 24, 1876 outwardly of the body at the end opposite the legs. is

CHAUNCEY G. BEVIN, 2ND- FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date REFERENCES CITED 20,98 Australia of 1935 The following references are of record in the 99201 France 1930 file of this patent: l0 

